Last-minute gift ideas for Valentine's Day

There's nothing like finding a rare, last-minute gift for Valentine's Day. Thankfully, the Heart of Smyrna has just that for your sweetie, though she'll never know the gift was purchased mere hours before this romantic holiday.

There's nothing like finding a rare, last-minute gift for Valentine's Day. Thankfully, the Heart of Smyrna has just that for your sweetie, though she'll never know the gift was purchased mere hours before this romantic holiday.

Glass artisan Larry Ford — owner of Masters Art Glass Studio in Smyrna (located at 32 E. Commerce St.) — is selling various renditions of his stained glass heart-shaped sun casters at the Heart of Smyrna. The hearts, all crafted in glass, are designed as either single or double hearts. Hearts appear in colors such as red wine, cherry red, pink and two-tone colors of red and white. In addition, there are heart-shaped sun casters decorated with a gemstone and deer antler, from a buck hunted in Delaware.

Sun casters are in limited supply, so you'll want to purchase them swiftly.

Moreover, Ford believes his creations are a must-have since "they're one-of-a-kind," smiled the 58-year-old, who's been a glass artisan since the 1970s.

Mr. Glass

Even if you've never heard of Ford, you've certainly seen his work if you've driven past or attended church service at Centennial United Methodist Church (located on 44 E. Mt. Vernon St.). Ford designed each glass stained window in Centennial. In addition, he's been commissioned by American Legion Post 14 to design a stained-glass piece to be on display in the trophy room of their new ambulance facility.

The dedication of the new facility (located at 9000 Smyrna-Clayton Blvd.) is set for March 7, said Allan Post, American Legion Post 14 ambulance service director.